Things you wish you'd say but wish you wouldn't have to

Guiding hands

Pastor M.B. Waidande (2.2.22 - 15.11.15)

It warms my heart to see the number of lives my grandfather has touched. What can I say about my grandfather that hasn't been said and how much can I say that would be enough.

We all remember his teachings, his values, his sermons, his faith.

Whenever I think of him I think of a sunrise, that is one of my earliest memories, waking up at dawn crawling out from under the mosquito net only to cuddle up next to him and sleep some more.

My second memory of him is sitting with him in church in Spicer, I wasn't listening to the sermon so he gave me a small red Bible with my name in it. It was 12th Nov 1983, the best unexpected birthday gift I got... 37 years later I still have that Bible.

I will never forget the volleyball matches I watched with him, listening to him patiently explain it to me, the cycle rides he gave me even though he was busy because I didn't know how to ride a cycle.

I have celebrated my birthdays with different family members and different friends but there was always one constant thing that never changed, every bday he would tell me stories of how he took me on his cycle for rides and I would force him to stop at shops for chocolates and ice cream, it neve for old..... That story was the last thing we said to each other.

There was a lesson to learn in everything he did and said, from his stories of milking cows, to his wrestling, to the sports he loved, to teaching and guiding everyone around him.

There is too much to say and not enough time. I'm honored and blessed to have lived in his shadow. He is my grandfather but he was more than a father to me.

All I can say is "God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around you and whispered

Come to me."